Glad to see it done. Get right to the evaluation of players and putting the new scheme in place ASAP. I'm more excited about Kyle Shanahan as the OC and Mike Zimmer the DC. I think KS will need to emphasize the run a bit more than in Houston to be successful in late Nov. / Dec. in the NFC East, but that shouldn't be an issue, especially if Alex Gibbs is coming to run the OL. Zimmer will likely stay with the 4-3 (I'm not sure where the 3-4 rumors are coming from) and greatly improve our defense in terms of 3rd down % and turnovers.

I am pretty sure its a version of the WCO. Anyone please correct me if I am wrong but Shanahan is from the Walsh coaching tree, along with the likes of Andy Reid, Gruden, Holmgrin, Marriuci(sp), and others...

Sorry if I mis-spelled any of the coaches names...

__________________ "I am the best at what I do, and what I do isn't very nice" - Sean Taylor

Shanny's run game is also predicated on zone-blocking schemes... the tailback makes one cut and goes up-field. He's made ordinary backs look tremendous, but we've got to have those athletic guards that can move.

__________________ "Sit your five dollar ass down before I make change."
- Nino Brown

To reiterate what has already been written, Shanahan runs the West Coast Offense. He will probably change the running scheme to a zone blocking one which will make us a true WCO. Shanny's version of the WCO emphasizes the running game.

--Is Bobby April a better special teams coach than Danny Smith?
--I thought Gruden was under the Mike Holmgren coaching tree?
--Zimmern reportedly ran the 3-4 in dallas under parcells so that's where those rumors are coming from.
--Whens the soonest we can cut players?

--Is Bobby April a better special teams coach than Danny Smith?
--I thought Gruden was under the Mike Holmgren coaching tree?
--Zimmern reportedly ran the 3-4 in dallas under parcells so that's where those rumors are coming from.
--Whens the soonest we can cut players?

If your refering to the Skins possibly utilizing the 3-4 then the rumors surfaced because people learned that Adam Schefter mentioned that Shanahan and Slowick were visiting both the Steelers and the Patriots camp last Aug. because Shanahan was interested in the 3-4 and wanted to see how the better teams that use it make it work. Rumor sort of came from Schefter meaning Shanahan might use the 3-4 where ever he landed his next job.

It was also rumored that he told Buffalo he wanted to empliment the 3-4 when he was interviewed by them.

I remember Denver being able to take any running back and making them into 1,000 yard rushers. Every year I try to avoid getting excited about the offseason, but screw it, yipppieee!!

This is what I like also. M.Shanahan was able to build good OL's that opened holes for the RB's to gain all those yrds. Plus we have K.Shanahan who has built one of the top passing yrdage teams in the league.

Clinton Portis called the hiring of Mike Shanahan "a great idea." London Fletcher said that Shanahan "instantly becomes the face of the franchise." Reporters Barry Svrluga, Rick Maese, Jason Reid and Dan Steinberg are rounding up reaction from the Washington Redskins. We'll be adding to this file as the night wears on.

"I think it's a great idea," running back Clinton Portis said Tuesday evening. Portis played under Shanahan in 2002 and '03 with the Broncos. "I really think it's the best direction you can head in. You're talking about a proven coach, a coach who's going to come in and get things done, a coach that's got something to prove. He's a hell of a coach. I think the players are going to love him, and I think he's going to bring in the right kind of guys."

Linebacker London Fletcher, who attended the Capitals' game at Verizon Center: "I think it's great. Being able to add a two-time Super Bowl-winning head coach, it's phenomenal. He commands respect from the players right away. ... He instantly becomes the face of the franchise."

"I think we needed a guy in here who people are going to respect off of his name alone and Mike Shanahan is that guy," said cornerback DeAngelo Hall. "You already knew he was going to come in here with a great scheme, a great mind because he's a great coach. You know he's a great leader. But to have that name, Mike Shanahan, associated with the Redskins is big for us, it's big for the fans, and it's just great news."

"I'm not really surprised. Everyone knew it was coming," said right end Chris Cooley. "I think my first reaction is that I still feel for Jim Zorn. The guy worked hard, wanted to win but it just didn't come together. ... Moving forward, I'm excited to be a part of Mike Shanahan's and Bruce Allen's team. I think with that combination, it's a new vision, a new direction, which is good at this point."

As for Shanahan's offensive approach, Cooley said: "He's done great in the past. They run the ball extremely well. I remember looking at film and there was lots of play-action, lot of formations. It was an intelligent offense. He has the opportunity, with Fred [Davis]and I, to do a ton of different stuff."

"It's definitely a start," defensive end Andre Carter said. "You're talking about a man who's been to two Super Bowls, so he knows what it takes to build chemistry in an organization and have everyone start moving in the right direction. So I think this is a great hire. It's an honor to be working with Mike Shanahan."

The move of Kyle Shanahan to Washington, like that of his father, Mike, has been considered to be a done deal for weeks. In fact, Schefter tweeted: Another poor secret now public: Kyle Shanahan, the former Texans offensive coordinator, is the Redskins new offensive coordinator.

Leaving the Texans is not expected to be a problem for Shanahan; Houston head Coach Gary Kubiak worked for Mike Shanahan in Denver for years.

"It's going to be very hard to leave because of everything we've accomplished," Shanahan said told the Houston Chronicle recently. "I work with a lot of good people, but I've always wanted to work with my dad. If he comes back, I think the timing will be right.

"When he got fired by Denver last year, I told him when he came back I wanted to work with him, no matter where."

Kyle Shanahan, 30, joined the Texans in 2006 after two years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

I didn't expect his son to get the OC job I was hoping the potential rumor of clausen being joined by Charlie Weiss on the skins which would be good. Either way we not have a guy who has the respect to not back down from snyder.